A Cool Morning

Age has something to do with it, but I really do not like feeling chilled or cold first thing in the morning. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I love skiing corn snow on a warm sunny day even if we have to wait for the overnight freeze to soften before enjoying spring corn.

Spring also means lighter clothing. Hang up the heavy insulated jacket, and fold the insulated powder pants, dropping them on a shelf, because it is too warm for these pieces of clothing. I thought today was a good day to lighten up the cover-ups. Warm weather was predicted, at least I thought that was what I heard and/or read. I guess I misunderstood the predictions handed out last night.

The temperature was not really very cold first ride up Summit this morning. It was right at the freezing mark, but there was a wind clocking at 32 plus miles per hour. Again, this is not a howling wind, but after leaving a layer or two at home, and leaving the locker room with a spring jacket on, it felt cold. Later in the morning the winds continued, but the sun warmed up the air making it more than tolerable.

I was surprise to see the lake covered in fog this morning.  It took awhile for it to burn off.  I guess this is caused by an inversion in the weather where the air is warm the higher up you go. The featured photo today shows the lake covered in fog this morning.

Grooming was once again very well done by the night crew. I enjoyed sliding around on corduroy for a number of runs, but leaving the machine tilled snow did not prove to be a good idea early in the day. Off the groomed areas most of the mountain was very firm. Unpleasant would have been a kind word for north facing slopes such as Sympathy, The Face, Palisades, and North Peril. They were bullet proof through much of the morning.

Of course, these conditions indicate one should ride TLC to Sherwood where the sun has been sending rays of warm onto the snow pack since rising above mountain tops to the southeast of Lake Tahoe. I did not leave Summit as soon as other members of our tight knit group chose, but eventually I joined them at Sherwood.

I kept waiting for the off-piste surface near the top of Summit to soften with hopes of making a quick trip over the High Traverse on my way to Sherwood. I left to head to Sherwood before conditions changed enough for the High Traverse tour.
Once I hit the slopes of Sherwood it became evident that softening of the surface was well under way before my arrival. Sherwood Face was pleasant enough, as were the main groomed runs. I tried Powerline. It was soft and fun, but not perfect. Rubble from previous turns the day before were still firm. Mark and company skied Chute Zero reporting it’s surface to be fantastic corn. They repeated skiing the slope three or four more times before heading to Lakeview, or Scott, where Ridge and Bobby’s were in stellar condition.

I did not stay for the mid to late afternoon session, but I assume well skied north facing slopes softened giving skiers more challenging opportunities. Steeper slopes filled with moguls can be more challenging than smooth medium slopes covered with spring corn, but the spring corn slope might be more enjoyable.
Tomorrow I am going to wear a heavier jacket for the morning session

Enjoy your day,
Andy

Editors Note: There has been some upgrades to the forecast for snow. Rather than add it to Andy’s post, I updated yesterday’s post with the details.